MODEL: Avila

A SPANISH Down syndrome model from Spain has made history by catwalking during New York Fashion week.

Marian Avila, 21, rocked a red dress and two others for Atlanta designer Talisha White, supported by her parents and siblings who were watching from the audience.

“I felt really happy and I really loved the runway,” explained Avila, from Alicante. “I wanted to show the world that there are no barriers.”

The designer – whose outfits focused on ‘prom, pageant and special occasions’ – found Avila on Facebook and wanted to help her make her dreams come true.


“She’s been a busy supermodel, meeting with all types of people,” White said of the attention Avila has received worldwide.

CATWALK: Avila in New York

“I’m very glad for her. She’s been meeting with Vogue (magazine) and with Harper’s Bazaar.

“She’s been meeting in different showrooms, different modeling agencies.”


White added: “I wanted to show not just one type of girl is beautiful. I like to showcase all types of girls, from pageant girls to models in wheelchairs, models with Down syndrome, models who are four feet and told they can never be a model. They are my ‘it’ girl.”


Avila revealed that she ‘practices modelling everyday’ and that she also wants to be an actress.

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